Category: Home Improvement

The window shutters that were in my home were part of the home since the day I bought it. I bought the home over 40 years ago. That was quite a decade, filled with a lot of good times and partying. It seemed like every other week, I would have my friends and family come over and we would eat food and dance to the newest music at the time. As I got older, I invited people over less, and spent more of my time at home reading books and listening to quieter music. In all of those years, the shutters have stood there and seen and heard it all.

Those shutters had seen better days, and I decided that it was time to finally retire them. They served their purpose well, but they were really outdated and needed to be replaced with something a little more modern. Read More

I looked into acquiring plantation shutters because I have what you could call a problematic bathroom window. It’s not a situation where it is at ground level and people are looking in when I am in my bath or shower, but rather the window is placed very high. It’s close to the ceiling, actually, and it’s always been a pain to get up there to open and close the blinds. We used to have this stick thing that would snap into the blind and then you could twist and open them, but it was a such a pain to use.

Then we lost the stick and any attempt to open or close them involved a step ladder and it became quite a dangerous task to attempt. Read More

Between World War I and World War II, escapism through art was born and it made its way into every lifestyle. It was seen in furniture, jewelry, and architecture. This new art revolution became known as “Art Deco” and it was stylish, luxurious, and extravagant. After World War I, artists wanted to create hope and optimism for the future.

The Art Deco movement began to decline when World War II began because the furniture was considered to extravagant for the economic hardships people were facing. Many of the pieces are now part of art collections.

Art Deco furniture characteristics

In furniture artist incorporated themes of fountains and sunburst to symbolize the dawning of a new modern age. There were also geometric shapes that were symbolic to technology and machinery. The artists also took their inspiration from ancient cultures such as the civilizations of Central America, Egypt, and Asia. They used luxuriant fabrics and vibrant colors. You saw satiny metal finishes, clamorous mirrors, exotic embellishments such as jewels, and luxuriant leathers. The artists did not used classic materials for their furnishings but instead used materials with glass, inlaid and lacquered wood, stainless steel, and aluminum. They also used daring symmetry and repetition, sweeping curves, the sunburst motif, and chevron patters.

Types of furnishings

• Mirrors-dressers, coffee tables, and vanity and dressing tables were being manufactured with mirrors
• Exotic wood furniture-various furnishings were being created using rare woods like ebony, Amboina, violetwood, and mahogany. They were also using woods that were not that expensive like ash, ample, and oak. Once the furniture was completed, they will put on a coat of lacquer that will give it a sleek glamorous look. When making Art Deco cabinets the use of lacquer was widespread.
• Metal finishing-in the 1920’s the industrial boom and the Machine Age were being symbolized, which transferred on to the furniture. It had futuristic look with stainless steel and metal finishes.
• Leather furniture-during the Art Deco period leather furniture was a big hit. The furniture was made of soft, richly textured leathers in three main colors, which were tan, black, and brown. Some dyed the leather gaudy colors like tangerine orange or cherry red. You could find ottomans, armchairs, and sofas made of leather.

• Wooden inlays-a primary characteristic of the Art Deco era was to give armchairs and sofas a classic wooden inlay. This gave the furniture an expensive sophisticated appeal. The colors that the artists mainly used were rich tones of gold, copper, and metallic.
• Luxurious embellishments-the furnishing was embellished with accents of luxurious quarts, onyx, ivory, Murano glass, jade, and other stones. The artists used these mostly in wall clocks, chandeliers, lamps and radios to give them epicurean and modern look.

There are bunches of wardrobe design ideas beautifully designed to cater the needs of today’s generation, beside for the storage needs it can also be used as the dressing table by adding a mirror into the panel of the wardrobe. Wardrobes have been an essential part for visually enhancing the beauty of the room. The design of your almirah should go hand in hand with the interior and décor theme of the room for a beautiful finish.

With the trending designing needs the need of hiring home designers has been essential to meet the requirements of the clients. Now hire interior designer easily within minutes.

Wardrobe has a multi-dimensional approach because of the beautiful designs which are created by keeping in mind not only the storage usage but also the functionality purposes.

Here are some tips for the wardrobe design ideas to make your life easier at all levels

The shape of your closet room

A ‘U’- shape closet

An ‘L’- shape closet

A straight closet

The ‘L’ shape closets are positioned between two of the rooms’ walls. The ‘U’ ones, on the other hand, occupy more space (three walls), but it looks more admiring. Then comes the straight closets which are the most functional choice, since their sides enable maximal storage; and there is always some extra space for a vintage mirror and an ottoman for the visitors.In the process of going through the custom closet design ideas, people can start making better use of their closet space. Appropriately organized closet can also make the entire room look that much tidier.

While storage is quoted every time, if the wardrobe is part of a bedroom, the bedroom is the priority. An oversized enormous wardrobe can ruin a bedroom resulting in ravage because the bedroom feels too cramped.

Some master bedroom closets can be closed, but others are actually designed to stay open all the time. The open look can actually improve a room by making it look even larger. The fact that a closet stays open all the time can actually emphasize its good design and the fact that it looks so tidy and interesting.

Every piece of furniture has its place in the house but the bedroom wardrobe is different from other because it allows you to find everything you want as soon as possible in its place.

Restructuring your closet area is not possible without proper lighting. Have in mind that closets are usually positioned opposite the windows of your bedroom. Therefore, you need strong lights on the ceiling, or some extra LED illumination coming from the walls.

Make room for shelves that are at a height. You can store unworn or unused items there for future use.

One of the most important things to consider when deciding on placement of furniture in a Living room or Family room, is to decide on a focal point for the room. The first thing to consider is the architectural focal point which would be a window, a fireplace, major door such as French doors or sliding glass doors. You can also create a focal point with a large, major piece of furniture such as an entertainment center. Once you have decided on your focal point, everything else in the room will be placed based on the focal point.

Seating placement

Now the largest piece of furniture will need to be placed opposite your focal point. This can be placed on an angle especially if there are any angles in the walls or ceiling. You do not need to place furniture against the wall unless the room is very small. Actually, placing the furniture away from walls tends to make the room feel larger. From this point on everything else in the room will need to be placed according to the placement of the first piece of furniture and in line with this first piece.

Usually the largest piece of furniture is a sofa and the next piece may be a love seat or large chair which would need to be placed at right angles with the sofa to form an “L” shape. Other chairs would need to be placed diagonally opposite this grouping but at right angles to the sofa. In this way seating is arranged in convenient conversation areas. If a room is very long, more than conversational area can be created.

Tables and other furniture

Once the seating is established the end tables and coffee table can be placed accordingly, usually with an end table between the sofa and love seat or chair and another end table between the other chairs in the room. The coffee table should be placed in front of the sofa with enough space to comfortably walk between the sofa and table. Be sure to leave enough space to walk through the room, but not straight through. There should be more of a weaving, zig-zag traffic pattern through the room, but all tables should be within easy reach of the seating furniture so that drinks may be to be placed on them and they can be comfortably reached without having to get up.

Other furniture items such as tables, bookcases, piano, chests should be placed on walls appropriate to the size of the furniture and spaced around the room so they are balanced and not too many heavy pieces are on one side of the room. Area rugs also help to anchor a room and define an activity area such as a conversational area or dining area. In choosing an area rug, be sure to select one large enough to encompass all the furniture, or at least the front feet of the seating arrangement.

Lighting

The next task is the selection of lighting. Table lamps, floor lamps, hanging lights can be used, but need to be chosen to fit the space and size of the area. If tables and other furniture have been placed correctly, the placement of lamps should be appropriately spaced diagonally throughout the room providing evenly balanced lighting.

Artwork

Once furniture and lighting have been established, artwork and decorative items can be hung on the walls. The most important thing to consider when hanging wall art is the size and shape, and how it relates to the furniture it is hanging over or the wall space. The size and shape should be similar to the furniture it is hanging over. For instance, you would not hang a tall vertical picture over a long horizontal sofa. You could hang two pictures side by side that are related as long as the frames do not go beyond the outside horizontal dimensions of the sofa. The artwork should be tied to the piece of furniture so that it extends the dimensions of the furniture up or to one side.

Groupings of small pictures can be arranged into a gallery as long as the overall shape is similar to the piece of furniture it is related to and does not extend beyond the horizontal dimensions of the furniture. These can be spread out on the floor in order to achieve the best arrangement. If walls have an angle at the ceiling or a staircase angle, wall hangings should follow the same angle. The best place to hang a mirror is on the opposite wall of a window so that it reflects the natural light into the room.

Accessories

The last thing you do in decorating a room is to arrange the accessories. These are art objects that you set on tables or shelves. This would include flower arrangements, small pictures, books, candlesticks, glass or pottery objects, etc. When you arrange a group of accessories start with the tallest item first and work down to the smaller items. Keep sets and like items together rather than separating them, and arrange in an asymmetrical grouping rather than a symmetrical one like the same candle stick on each side of a mantel. Use heavier items on heavy pieces of furniture and lighter objects on smaller furniture. Also, when placing items on shelves or in cabinets place heavier items on the lower shelves and lighter items on the higher shelves.

Using all the guidelines mentioned above should help you arrange a comfortable, inviting, and relaxing room for owners and guests as well.

Encompassing the cultures and traditions, imbibing the artistry of interiors from India, Asia, the South Pacific, British Colonial design style take elements from the international continents that were once part of the British Empire.

Create a dramatic impression with neutral shades and dark teak wood furniture with an interplay of local motifs like paisley, lotus, elephants and peacocks, mixing with traditional British furniture.These interiors have soft subtle textures, ivories and linen whites, with elegantly carved dark wood almirahs and hope chests, creating comfortable sophistication in light and airy spaces but with a touch of British formality. Choose from old hope trunks, distressed cabinets, folk painted tribal jharokhas and dark rosewood Calcutta Cabinets.

Lightweight and eclectic handloom printed fabrics, authentic textiles with floral paisleys, colorful ikats and joyful animal prints in cotton throws, tossed over the Maharaja bed or used as a blanket in the evening carelessly draped over the plantation chair, the ambiance is captured in the romantic monsoon settings of the tea estates.

Mix and match sari patchwork throw pillows for an eclectic, world travelled flair and pashmina jamavar blankets with a persian influence. Hang mandla printed cotton tapestries or banjara rugs in an erratic fashion, simplify with sheers and cotton voiles. Classic rope beds or daybeds, Indian diwans with ivory cushions make it relatively easy to get the British Colonial look.Using a rope chair as an accent, match with old door teak coffee and sofa tables, dark patinas play with the soft ivory furnishings.

Look for natural cottons and silks, handloom textured fabrics with traditional Indian folk prints in Indigo and Jaipur blues are a favorite. Rattan chairs and a colorful painted screen with Indian reds and green, floral patterns and beautiful hand carved designs are a fun and attractive way of adding the wow factor.

Light and airy subtle hues inspired by tropics, neutral shades are used on the walls of a traditional British Colonial interior. These airy hues helped negate the overwhelming tropical heat as well as the watery blue patinas on doors bring in the calming energies of the ocean.

All of us wish we could completely redesign and redecorate our home all at once, but unfortunately that is just not possible for most of us. Instead there are some quick and easy ways to bring new life back into your living space. At the same time it will feel as if you did more changes to your living space than you actually have.

Paint

I know, I know painting is not that much fun for most of us but adding a new color or just a fresh coat of paint can really liven up a room. The wear and tear we put on our homes just by living there can add a dull tone. Although if you are going to paint you might as well add a new color that will add more character to your room.

Crown Molding

You watch the home improvement fixer upper shows you are always here about crown molding. It can add so much to a room. If you find that your living space is missing crown molding you’ll find that by adding it to your room it dramatically changes it!

Area Rug

Sometimes you can simply add a beautiful area rug to your living space and it changes the whole look and feel of the room. You can try adding an area rug with a splashes of bright colors to add a great accent color to the room.

Decorative Pillows

The new fun thing to add to your living space sometimes depending on even the season or holiday is beautiful fun pillows. You can pick an accent color or a fun pillow with an animal image on it. Try finding a coastal design if you want to move to that type of decor. There are so many options in buying pillows now that you’ll find you are enjoying it a lot!

Flowers

Splurge and go buy yourself some beautiful aromatic flowers. In doing this I would suggest taking a bit to find a fun decorative vase to put them in that will add to the new style you are moving the room to. If you aren’t too big on fresh flowers try purchasing a decorative wreath or some other type of green foliage.

Wall of Images

Something that is becoming more and more popular is selecting a wall in your room and adding a collage of images. Take some time selecting your favorite family or friend images and celebrate those memories by including them into your decor.

New Lighting

By adding new lighting it will open up your room and bring a new atmosphere to your space. You can do this by adding new accent lamps on your side tables or even adding a large decorative mirror on the wall. Mirrors can add more natural lighting to a room which gives the perception of that your living space is actually larger than it is. Great tip if you are feeling a little crammed and can’t figure out if you need to remove furniture.

Living in a beautiful house is a dream many of us cherish for long. However, only a few among us take steps in the right direction and realize the goal of beautifying the home. Those who do look for latest interior design trends so that the spaces can start looking charming and inspired corners are transformed completely. Such home owners want neighbors and relatives to take note of the interior designing work and thus, search for ideas in magazines, on the web and on TV etc. They also make sure the interior design trends fit well into the trends of the modern times and meet societal ethos.

Let’s look at some of features of latest interior design trends –

Latest trend don’t fade out soon

Latest trends in interior designing won’t change soon as they’re quite unlike those in the fashion and tech industries. Rather, they stay in there and gradually get to people and grow on people across societies. They will be in vogue for years and you can find houses accepting them and assimilating their virtues in a slow manner.

They blend traditional and modern ideas together

Latest interior design trends are not any unique discovery or concept; rather, they are a coming together of the merits of the traditional and modern ideas. For example, the use of wooden materials is growing across modern structures and it’s like going back to the classical touch. And home owners now prefer small yet cozy spaces which was norm during the 60s and 70s.

Greater use of natural materials and colors

It’s true that home owners today do a greater use of natural materials and colors in beautifying the interiors of their house. In fact, hand-crafted items are also a fad these days among people aspiring for beautiful home interiors. Similarly, the use of modern geometry and colorful texture is on the up in interior designing. Not to forger, the use of glass or other see-through objectives is rising up steadily for transforming the interiors.

A touch of nature in design

Calm and cosy atmosphere is the latest desire for home owners when they design the interiors of the house. They want the spaces to get a cleaner and greener look at the cost of flashy ornamentation and gaudy enhancements. Using greener and natural materials or options to bring in a touch of nature is surely the latest trend with interior designing. This is why wood and green carpets are used more these days in interiors.

Hand-crafted items more in demand

Let’s admit it straightway – people want classy look and feel. They can vintage furniture and accessories, preferably hand-crafted ones to grace the interiors. The focus is to lend the interior a dash of artistic craftsmanship through the use of items hand-crafted with perfection. So, you can feel the difference with the way customized furniture are used these days.

More natural light, less dark shades

As per latest interior design trends, the focus is shifted to more natural lights and less dark shades. So, only those objects and materials are used that bring in more light and take out dark shades. Similarly, home owners today prefer bold patterns, objects with smooth edges, accessories with soft edges and bright primary colors.

Every home should be planned with a view to making it maintenance free as much as possible. Not many have time or interest in gardening but pleasant surroundings make any house into a comfortable home. Landscaping is, therefore, essential to get right but not necessarily to cost a fortune. Simple ideas and working with the shape of the land is the key. If one has an imaginative mind there are easy tips to follow.

One of the first is what you want the garden to do for you. Are you interested in growing vegetables, fruit, berries, and so on, or do you simply want a large grassed area for games, if one has children?

Where my house is located there is a beautiful park less than five minutes walk away. That took away the need for any grass areas so instead I covered the front with a four-inch layer of large pine park chips laid over several layers of newspapers. The paper breaks down in time and does not prevent moisture from getting through to the soil.

Prior to moving into this house my job was as a landscape designer and many of my plans are in operation in Sydney and now Canberra. The primary goal with them is to have a nice outlook and lots of trees so that the birds and other wildlife are attracted to it. That also make water an essential element as they all come to drink if there is suitable supply.

Tree selection should be a combination of fruit and native species. In my design the fruit trees are confined to the back and the native eucalypts, callistemon, and wattles are in the front. They attract birds and possums as well as some great insects, including butterflies.

With fruit trees there is some maintenance required to keep them at their best and roses always need pruning. If one does not have the patience to grow these plants than try the less demanding ones like camellias, azaleas, and rhododendrons.

One has only to use their imagination to get a lovely garden growing and in time the rewards will be astounding. The local nursery is always a great place to get advice and help with plant selection. Grow plants suited to your area and especially those that are native to it and you won’t go wrong.

The best landscaping advice one can give is to plan for the least maintenance and make sure to work to the shape of the land. Don’t remove hills if they can be utilised as a bank for visual effects. Don’t remove large rocks that might be a good focal point. Put pathways in the right spot and curve them to add more interest. Your work should give you pleasure and not pain and if you do it right that will be your reward.

You may have big dreams for your home remodel project. And they may need a big budget. However, if you are on a budget, you can shop around. This way you can save a lot of money. Below are our top 7 tips that can help you achieve the purpose.

1. Know Your Limits

If you don’t know your limits, you may end up wasting a lot of money on your DIY project. So, it’s important that you know your limits. For instance, you may want to leave the plumbing, electrical and structural work to professionals. Make sure you get recommendations before hiring professionals.

2. Get a Working Pee

The good news is that you can do a lot of jobs with your family and friends. A package of a BBQ and a few drinks can get a lot of things done. Given below is a list of tasks that you can do with a few helping hands.

· Tiling jobs

· Assembling of a flat-pack kitchen

· Polishing floorboards

· Landscaping

· Fencing

· Painting

3 DIY Lessons

For basic DIY tasks, you have to have a few tools and some practical knowledge. You can get both from a reputable hardware store. You may sign up for a DIY workshop as well.

Moreover, if some of your friends know the trades, you can talk to them and get their help. You may also “bribe” them to get some fundamental tips and lessons to use the tools. If you don’t have the tools, you can borrow or hire some.

4. Buy Online or at auctions

If you shop around, you can save a lot on supplies, labor and other materials. You can use your negotiation skills for discontinued sales. Although shopping around will cost you some time, you will get whatever you want.

5. Long-term Savings

If you are on a tight budget, you may not give much importance to long-term savings through buying materials or technology that uses less energy. Given below are some energy saving ideas for you.

· Solar panels

· Quality insulation

· Rainwater tanks

· LED lights

6. Be Creative

With “mood” lighting and new paint, you can make a great impact. These things are also affordable. For instance, repainting or resurfacing bathroom basins, baths and tiles, you can beautify your home without spending a great deal of money.

It’s also a good idea to visit good color consultants and showroom staff. The experts will give you a few ideas as to how you can do your remodel the best way.

7. Compromise

While compromising is not easy, you can set your expectations based on your budget. For this, we suggest that you write down your list of things that you absolutely need as well as other nice-to-haves. This will save you a lot of bucks.

So, if you are looking to renovate your house on a tight budget. We suggest that you follow these 7 tips. Hopefully, you will have a great time remodeling your house.